I sympathize for his money concerns, but I don't agree that space exploration is overfunded.

True but,
the F35 is a Joint Strike Fighter. The JSF program is supposed to replace a wide variety of aging plane models (F-16, F-18, A-10, F117, etc.) It is one program that has two types of engines fitting in one plane. I think this is a better approach than updating one fighter/bomber/strike fighter at a time. Military programs like the JSF or UAV are used as a deterrent and we should always invest in them because they serve as a great political tool for Foreign policy, and as a great research tool for the our economy and the advancement of human achievement. It is because of programs like these that we have not used a Nuke or Dirty bomb in the last 50 years. Conventional warfare is still critical, whether you agree with it or not. If you want to blame our bullying around the world, then blame the politicians for that. That's a strategic failure, not an operational failure.

As for the space program. The U.S. is still spending tremendously into the space program through the U.S. Air Force. NASA has taken the passenger seat for all things critical when it comes to space, and I agree with that decision completely.

I support research programs like the JSF or the Air Force's GPS program among many other de-classified projects; however, I do not support the DOJ/DEA/ATF and 90% of the TSA. I think those departments are worthless and their funds could be used for education and healthcare.

>> ^spoco2:

>> ^Jinx:
The Harrier is to the F35 as the Sopwith Camel is to the Eurofighter.
Ok, thats hyperbole, but the Harrier was pretty limited. I wasn't supersonic for a start, no stealth capabilities, fairly limited air to air/manoeuverability etc. No gun for ground attack either.
Personally I think its a pretty incredible feat of engineering. On the flip side its going to cost the US taxpayer $320billion.

It's a cool plane and all, but that number is absolutely insane.
$320 BILLION dollars.
Yeah, cut medical care, cut schooling, cut spending on space exploration, but don't touch the spending on making a fucking aeroplane for killing people.
And we wonder if countries have their priorities right when it comes to spending money.

>> ^spoco2:

>> ^Jinx:
The Harrier is to the F35 as the Sopwith Camel is to the Eurofighter.
Ok, thats hyperbole, but the Harrier was pretty limited. I wasn't supersonic for a start, no stealth capabilities, fairly limited air to air/manoeuverability etc. No gun for ground attack either.
Personally I think its a pretty incredible feat of engineering. On the flip side its going to cost the US taxpayer $320billion.

It's a cool plane and all, but that number is absolutely insane.
$320 BILLION dollars.
Yeah, cut medical care, cut schooling, cut spending on space exploration, but don't touch the spending on making a fucking aeroplane for killing people.
And we wonder if countries have their priorities right when it comes to spending money.

But but but it creates jobs! But then so do oil spills.


Nasa's annual budget is what, about 18billion USD? Somebody smart and probably equally evil once discovered how to tap the limitless resource of fear. They got pretty rich.

>> ^Jinx:

The Harrier is to the F35 as the Sopwith Camel is to the Eurofighter.
Ok, thats hyperbole, but the Harrier was pretty limited. I wasn't supersonic for a start, no stealth capabilities, fairly limited air to air/manoeuverability etc. No gun for ground attack either.
Personally I think its a pretty incredible feat of engineering. On the flip side its going to cost the US taxpayer $320billion.


It's a cool plane and all, but that number is absolutely insane.

$320 BILLION dollars.

Yeah, cut medical care, cut schooling, cut spending on space exploration, but don't touch the spending on making a fucking aeroplane for killing people.

And we wonder if countries have their priorities right when it comes to spending money.

I'm a whiny bitch about details - especially where voice-over is concerned (e.g. I hate dubs) - but the info in the vid was good stuff. Science and space exploration FTW!

>> ^Barseps:

>> ^hpqp:
When the nature and science in documentaries are already mindblowingly awesome, is the overthetop, action-film trailer voice-over really necessary? ( misses Sagan dearly )

Great doc btw.

Thanks for the vote bud :-D

Agreed.

And thanks for overlooking any snarkiness in my original comment (it was submitted pre-coffee).
>> ^Boise_Lib:

>> ^bamdrew:
(Psst)... hey... letting you in on a secret... NASA's not dead.
New bot (Curiosity) launching to Mars later this year; should land Aug. 2012.
Also, Opportunity found a fucking amazing rock just this week; search out that shit if you're interested.
I'm actually very excited by the new direction in manned space exploration... essentially a focus on funding technology development and testing to make near earth orbit commonplace. http://www.nasa.gov/about/whats_next.html
>> ^Boise_Lib:
This is a great video.
RIP US space program.


You're absolutely correct. NASA's alive I'm just mad at the politicians.
I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival at Pluto of the Horizon. Last I heard that will be in 2015-16.
I've always said that in order to have a better manned space program--build more robots. Build a bunch of little ones and spread them all over Mars.

>> ^bamdrew:

(Psst)... hey... letting you in on a secret... NASA's not dead.
New bot (Curiosity) launching to Mars later this year; should land Aug. 2012.
Also, Opportunity found a fucking amazing rock just this week; search out that shit if you're interested.
I'm actually very excited by the new direction in manned space exploration... essentially a focus on funding technology development and testing to make near earth orbit commonplace. http://www.nasa.gov/about/whats_next.html
>> ^Boise_Lib:
This is a great video.
RIP US space program.



You're absolutely correct. NASA's alive I'm just mad at the politicians.

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival at Pluto of the Horizon. Last I heard that will be in 2015-16.

I've always said that in order to have a better manned space program--build more robots. Build a bunch of little ones and spread them all over Mars.

(Psst)... hey... letting you in on a secret... NASA's not dead.

New bot (Curiosity) launching to Mars later this year; should land Aug. 2012.

Also, Opportunity found a fucking amazing rock just this week; search out that shit if you're interested.

I'm actually very excited by the new direction in manned space exploration... essentially a focus on funding technology development and testing to make near earth orbit commonplace. http://www.nasa.gov/about/whats_next.html

>> ^Boise_Lib:

This is a great video.
RIP US space program.

Many thanks!

In reply to this comment by notarobot:
Hmm... there's something wrong in the comments... something's... missing...

*quality

There. I fixed it.

deGrasse 2012!

<sub>(I'm just fucking with Payback.)

(You should, too.)</sub>

Congratulations! Your video, Neil deGrasse Tyson: bank bailout vs. space exploration, has reached the #1 spot in the current Top 15 New Videos listing. This is a very difficult thing to accomplish but you managed to pull it off. For your contribution you have been awarded 2 Power Points.

This achievement has earned you your "Golden One" Level 4 Badge!

>> ^messenger:

People aren't looking up into the vastness anymore, but we're still dreaming. Only now, our dreams are in the smallest places we can look, nanotechnology. That's where our next future is coming from, not the moon. People have always dreamed, since long before NASA, and will continue to do so, even if we don't have a multi-billion-dollar telescope looking into the past. Aristochines didn't need NASA to dream, and neither do we. I have no real opinion about NASA, but Neil's argument is flawed. He tends towards flawed arguments frequently for such a prominent scientist, mostly when he's trying to sell NASA to the public.


We still need space. Quite apart from all the stuff we still need to learn about the universe out there, we need resources - energy, materials and room to expand.

We'll also need another home planet because you can guarantee if there's a way humanity could fuck nanotech up, it will. Accidentally or deliberately.

>> ^9547bis:

deGrasse 2012!


Why the FUCK would you want to ruin him? He doesn't need to be there. You just need someone there who will listen and implement what he says.

Your video, Neil deGrasse Tyson: bank bailout vs. space exploration, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

This achievement has earned you your "Pop Star" Level 3 Badge!

It's funny that a lot of the same people who don't support space exploration are the very same people who support the companies who are making Earth uninhabitable. You'd think that they would understand the importance better than anyone.